Island



No Model.)

J. HOMER.

SHOE LACE FASTENER.

No. 515,684. Patented Feb. 27, 1894.

PATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH HOMER, OF PROVIDENCE, Rl-IODE ISLAND.

SHOE-LACE FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,684, dated February 27, 1894.

Application filed October 2,1893. Serial No. 487,039. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it rnoay concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH HOMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful lmprovem cuts in Attachments for Shoe-Laces; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved attachment for shoe-laces, and it consists essentiall y of an elastic loop portion provided at one end, with a hook by means of which it may be removably secured to a shoe-lace, and a button mounted in the eye of the loop, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The object I have in view is to provide shoe-laces with an elastic loop which can be readily attached to or disconnected therefrom; the loop itself being adapted to be quickly passed over one of the upper lacingbooks or studs of the shoe or boot.

By means of my improvement much less time is required in the operation of lacing and unlacing as compared with the usual method, since it can be effected without the use of knots; moreover, asingle lace orstring of usual length will be found when divided and provided with my improvement to be amply long enough for lacing a pair of shoes. In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 represents an ordinary shoe-lace provided with my improvement, ready to be attached to the shoe. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device, in enlarged scale, ready for attachment and use, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a boot or shoe laced with an ordinary lacing or shoe-string provided with my improvement. In the drawings A designates an ordinar shoe-lace having my improved attachment or elastic loop removably secured thereto. The lace portion a. may be made of any suitable flexible or pliable material, as leather, or silk,

cotton, wool or other textile braid, and of any desired size and length. One or both ends may be provided with metallic tips a; through one end of the lace I prefer to insert a short piece of wire d, or in lieu of this a knot may be formed; this latter, however, may be found objectionable since it is liable to bear too snugly against the foot of the wearer.

The loop or attachment 19 forming the subject of my invention is clearly represented in Fig. 2. The loop proper is made of elastic material, such as narrow elastic Webbing; the two ends of the piece forming the loop are fastened together, as for example, by a metallic clip I) from which extends a small hook h, the latter being employed for removably securing the loop to the lace. When thus made it is evident that the loop portion 1) may be repeatedly used, since it can be readily detached from an old or worn-out lace and secured to a new one. The center or eye of the loop has a button 0 attached thereto to facilitate handling the lace as the latter is passed around the lacing-hooks, &c.

In applying a lacing provided with the elastic loop attachment 1) the free end of the lace (minus the loop) is say first passed outwardly through the bottom eyelet f until arrested by the guide or keeper (1 at the other end; after which the lace is rove through the other eyelets successively as usual and thence in a zig-zag manner around the several studs or hooksf, at the same time drawing it quite taut; after which I out the lace back sufficiently and attach the elastic loop portion 1) to its standing free end, at the same time making an allowance for future elongation of the lace. After the latter has been thus once adjusted to the shoe it may be readily and quickly intel-laced with the studs f, the loop 12 being finally stretched to pass over one of the upper studs. The elastic properties of the loop are obvious, for example, it renders the lace to some extent self-adjusting, and it forms a yielding connection or fastening thus afiording a greater degree of comfort to the wearer.

In unlacingthe shoe theloop button oforms a ready and convenient point for the fingers to seize upon, which on being pulled detaches the loop from the corresponding stud, followed by quickly freeing the lace from the remaining studs, thus completing the operation.

I do not claim broadly ashoe provided with a yielding or elastic lacing device, as one or more of such devices have been employed previous to my invention; but so far as I am aware an elastic loop I) provided with means h for readily attaching it to or detaching "it from the lacing and a central button 0, as hereinbefore described, has never been produced hitherto, therefore,

I claim as my invention As an article of manufacture, the removable loop-attachment for shoe-laces hereinbefore described, the same consisting of the me- 1 5 loop, constructed, arranged and adapted for 20 use, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH HOMER.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. REMINGTON, IDA M. WARREN. 

